Three daytime coyote sightings have been reported in the past day and a half, starting with the one texted with that photo along SW Rose in Gatewood. Then this afternoon, in the span of half an hour, Vanessae-mailed word of one in an alley between 36th and 37th and Findlay – “thin, scared-looking,” she said – followed by Christine‘s note, saying, “Just wanted to let you know that there have been two coyote sightings in our neighborhood (38th and Morgan) on Saturday, Feb. 14th and today, Monday, Feb. 16th. Both sightings occurred around 1:30 pm.” It’s mating season for coyotes, and experts say that tends to increase their daytime activity. Find out more about coyote behavior – and how to help ensure they and we keep our distance from each other – via this state Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage; if you don’t have time to read through it, short version – if one gets too close, scare it away. And don’t leave food out.

Don’t know if it’s the same coyote, but two people reported sightings in the same general area of Gatewood/Upper Morgan (map) this afternoon. The photo is from John, who e-mailed to say: “Just took this pic this afternoon on Willow, between 39th and 38th. I was walking my dog and this coyote ran out in front of us, crossing the street into the backyard in the alley.” We also got a phone call from someone who reported seeing a coyote on SW Frontenac between 39th and 40th, headed east, around 4 pm. Our most recent round of sighting reports was Gatewood-centric, too. Remember that as advised by wildlife experts, best thing to do if you see one is to try your hardest to scare it away.

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2015/01/west-seattle-coyotes-2-more-upper-morgangatewood-sightings/feed/1West Seattle coyotes: Heads up for backyard chicken-keepershttp://westseattleblog.com/2015/01/west-seattle-coyotes-heads-up-for-backyard-chicken-keepers/
http://westseattleblog.com/2015/01/west-seattle-coyotes-heads-up-for-backyard-chicken-keepers/#commentsTue, 13 Jan 2015 02:18:39 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=297935Check on your chickens, urban farmers. Both of today’s coyote reports mention backyard birds. Dan at 37th/Holden [map] says a coyote came into his yard today and got two of his four chickens, normally kept in a chain-link-surrounded enclosure, but let out to “free range” in the daytime, and it happened while he turned his attention away from a bit. We also heard from Janis, who says she saw a coyote at 2 pm at California/Southern [map]: “Was alerted by the chickens making noise.” Both of those locations are in Gatewood, as is a sighting on New Year’s Day that we still had in queue – Belinda saw one that day, going “down the sidewalk looking in yards in the 6500 block of 40th Ave SW.” [map]

Today’s impromptu wildlife theme continues, this time away from the shore – We’ve received three reports of coyote sightings in Sunrise Heights around mid-afternoon. Jeremy shared the photos (taken from a distance – we cropped them), after seeing two “wandering down 27th near Othello” in the 2 pm hour.

Not long after that, Ellery saw two coyotes that “just strolled by in front of my house on 32nd Ave at Holden St.” That’s also where Sarah reported seeing them. (Here’s a map showing both aforementioned locations.)

If you haven’t seen coyote mentions here before … we’ve been publishing reader reports of sightings for more than seven years; here’s the archive. The more awareness, and the more that we all follow advice such as not leaving food out, the more likelihood of continuing to minimize closeup conflict. (The state Fish and Wildlife “Living with Wildlife” page that we usually recommend seems to be inaccessible right now, so here’s another page full of info/advice.)

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/12/west-seattle-coyotes-2-together-seen-in-sunrise-heights/feed/13West Seattle wildlife: Recent coyote-sighting reportshttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/12/west-seattle-wildlife-recent-coyote-sighting-reports/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/12/west-seattle-wildlife-recent-coyote-sighting-reports/#commentsSat, 06 Dec 2014 21:24:30 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=294380One person who recently reported a coyote sighting phrased it more as a surprise that they are in West Seattle. So that’s why we mention them from time to time … in hopes fewer will be surprised. That report was from a man out with his 3-month old daughter who saw it in the 37th/Hudson vicinity. Other recent reports include an early-morning sighting as a coyote emerged from Lincoln Park; a coyote running down 40th SW in Gatewood, toward Othello; one jumping over a 6-foot fence in Arbor Heights to try to get a backyard chicken; two in Highland Park around HP Way and Othello; 6700 block of 42nd in Morgan Junction; and one near Fauntleroy and Dawson.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ONE?As the experts advise – try to scare it away – shout, wave, throw rocks, and remove every source of food you can (that includes outdoor pet food as well as small pets themselves, although experts say they more often eat small wild animals such as rats). Want to see where else they’ve been reported in the six-plus years we’ve been publishing sightings? Click the word “coyotes” under the headline of this story, to reach the archive.

And Robyn saw one “run west up the sidewalk on Rose Street west of 35th” around 5 o’clock Tuesday evening.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ONE?As the experts advise – do everything you can to scare it away. Yell, wave, throw rocks. That’s what experts urge, to encourage them to keep their distance. And remove every source of food you can (that includes outdoor pet food as well as small pets themselves, although experts say they more often eat small wild animals such as rats).

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/11/west-seattle-coyotes-yes-they-come-out-in-the-daytime/feed/13West Seattle coyotes: Halloween sightings, and morehttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/10/west-seattle-coyotes-halloween-sightings-and-more/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/10/west-seattle-coyotes-halloween-sightings-and-more/#commentsSat, 01 Nov 2014 01:10:33 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=290628Two coyote reports this Halloween: Paul tweeted about one in Fauntleroy, at California/Director, and we got a text about a “skinny coyote” near California/98th in Arbor Heights. Other reports in the past week or so include another one in Arbor Heights last Sunday, in which a coyote was interrupted while killing a cat (39th/100th); Upper Morgan (38th/Morgan); Puget Ridge (18th/Myrtle). If you’re new or haven’t seen these reports before, over the past six years we have received reader-reported sightings just about everywhere in West Seattle. This information from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife explains what to do if you see one (short answer – scare it away). Our previous coyote reports are archived here.
]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/10/west-seattle-coyotes-halloween-sightings-and-more/feed/11West Seattle coyotes: Who’s seeing them and wherehttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/10/west-seattle-coyotes-whos-seeing-them-and-where/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/10/west-seattle-coyotes-whos-seeing-them-and-where/#commentsWed, 15 Oct 2014 23:28:13 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=288793

(Added Thursday afternoon: Coyote seen by Rebecca on SW Barton)
Maybe it’s the change of seasons. The pace of coyote-sighting reports has picked up recently. We report them for awareness and education, not hysteria – here are the most-recent reports:

TWO HIGHLAND PARK SIGHTINGS: Moments ago, someone texted about a coyote spotted today at 18th and Cloverdale. That’s the second recent report we’ve had from Highland Park; Nicole reported one seen near 14th and Trenton “with a cat carcass.”

GATEWOOD SIGHTING #1: Janet says one “walked right by me as I was doing yard work” around 4:45 pm Tuesday near California/Webster. “Did not seem afraid of me. Appeared straggly and hungry.” It was headed east and she thinks it might have come up the stairs at 44th/Webster (not far from Solstice Park).

GATEWOOD SIGHTING #2: A few hours before that, to the northeast, Elizabeth encountered one while working, similar description: “I am a FedEx driver and just followed one down the street near 38th Ave SW & Myrtle. It was extremely mangy looking and emaciated, which could be of concern. Still a rather large one though. I saw it run up a tree filled driveway toward a house (in the 4100 block of) SW Orchard. Just a heads-up!”

NEAR CAMP LONG: TH spotted a coyote around 8 pm Sunday, about to cross 36th SW at Brandon: “Probably heading towards Camp Long. He looked healthy and while he was cautious he didn’t appear afraid. I figure he was 2′ at the shoulder.”

ARBOR HEIGHTS: Wendy reported her mother-in-law spotting two coyotes hanging out at a vacant lot near 39th/105th.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ONE? Our recent texter in HP said she had called Fish and Wildlife, which advised they don’t routinely respond to sightings. That’s true and has long been so. They do have an excellent guide about coexisting with coyotes, with advice such as how to scare them away if you see them, so that they will be encouraged to keep their distance, for our sake and theirs. We link it from every coyote report we publish – so here it is again.

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/10/west-seattle-coyotes-whos-seeing-them-and-where/feed/25West Seattle coyotes: Sightings in Arbor Heights, Highland Parkhttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/09/west-seattle-coyotes-sightings-in-arbor-heights-highland-park/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/09/west-seattle-coyotes-sightings-in-arbor-heights-highland-park/#commentsSat, 27 Sep 2014 18:29:22 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=287067Two coyote sightings to share today, first ones we’ve received in a while. As we’ve done more than 150 times in the past six years, when we get them, we publish them, not as cause for panic, but in the spirit of information/education, since not everyone realizes that we share our city with them. Patricia:

Coyote sighting this morning in Arbor Heights… about 6:30 am as I was walking two spaniels north on 39th Ave SW, a coyote was spotted sitting at the edge of the yard of the demolished-for-new-construction home between SW 106th and SW 104th. Pretty big – taller than my larger dog, though not so heavy. He moved into the street and sat down, watching us. We got to within 50 feet… close enough for me so I stamped twice. He turned north then west on SW 104th. Pretty neat!

And a quick report from Cynthia on Friday evening:

Coyote spotted on Trenton and 14th Ave SW.

The reports we’ve received over the years (archived here, newest to oldest) also tend to debunk myths such as, they only come out at night, or, they only live near greenbelts. So, what to do if you see one? Most important advice: Scare it away. That and other advice from state wildlife authorities is here.

WHALE WATCHING: Heard about the humpbacks in the area this past week or so? Colleen saw one and shared the photo:

A little late since this was Saturday night…..While boating with friends from West Seattle to Bainbridge Saturday evening around 5:15, we spotted a whale … We were so excited, our pictures are not that good. … It was awesome and unbelievable to be so close (our friends turned off their Bayliner’s engine as we watched the whale).

COYOTE REPORT: From Paul in North Admiral:

Just thought I’d pass on news of a coyote sighting in front of my house (Monday) morning on 42nd Ave between Seattle and Atlantic Streets in North Admiral. 4:30 am, I was leaving to go fishing, and a neighbor was walking his dog. We all must have come upon the coyote at the same time, and it took off running. Healthy looking adult. I’ve seen one here before, but it’s been several years.

RACCOONS: From Sean in Gatewood:

Spotted this mom and four youngsters at 8:30 (Monday) morning in my backyard. Very cute, but I’d prefer they dig holes elsewhere.

The state has advice on dealing with raccoons and coyotes – the former, here; the latter, here. (And lots of other species too – see the sidebar on either of those pages for the links.)

At 11:45 PM I saw a coyote in the middle of the California-Southern intersection [map]. I was 1/4 block away from it, on the east side of California at Elmgrove. I got a pretty good look at it. I was with my dog and it stopped and looked at us and turned around and went west on Southern towards Northrup. I crossed the street and looked down Southern and it turned around and looked at us again from mid block then continued west on Southern past Northrup. It looked like a healthy young one. I was glad it was wary of us.

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/07/west-seattle-coyotes-late-night-gatewood-sighting/feed/0West Seattle wildlife: Eagles on a crane; coyote on Beach Drivehttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/06/west-seattle-wildlife-eagles-on-a-crane-coyote-on-beach-drive/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/06/west-seattle-wildlife-eagles-on-a-crane-coyote-on-beach-drive/#commentsMon, 30 Jun 2014 05:18:44 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=277890Two wildlife notes from the inbox tonight – Karen, who lives in The Junction, reports three eagles spent at least 10 minutes on the 4030 California construction crane, “perching, circling, landing again and again … much chirping and activity.” They looked like two adults and a juvenile, she says, perhaps flight lessons for the younger one. Eagle sightings in West Seattle certainly aren’t rare, but this is the first on-a-crane report we’ve received.

In the early evening, Phyllis and Jeff reported, “Coyote sighting – about 50-60 lbs and wandering through our yard in the 5000 block of Beach Drive. Looks like he/she has been searching for food, as our backyard was all dug up. Usually don’t see them during the daytime! Our kitties are inside!” (We have actually had more than a few daylight reports over the years. This info from state wildlife experts explains what to do if/when you see one, day or night.)

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/06/west-seattle-wildlife-eagles-on-a-crane-coyote-on-beach-drive/feed/0West Seattle coyotes: Two sightings, three animalshttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/05/west-seattle-coyotes-two-sightings-three-animals/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/05/west-seattle-coyotes-two-sightings-three-animals/#commentsSat, 17 May 2014 18:18:59 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=273715From the WSB inbox, two coyote reports – first one sent this morning by Debbie:

Just saw a coyote heading east on 108th Street toward 35th [map] in Arbor Heights.

And this note from Russell is about a Wednesday morning double sighting:

Just wanted to warn our neighbors in Gatewood that my wife spotted two very healthy coyotes in the intersection of SW Monroe Street and 41st Avenue SW [map] at 3:45 am (Wednesday morning). After a few minutes they headed south on 41st.

Our standard footnote: We share coyote reports on occasion in the interest of being educational; believe it or not, we still hear from and about people who don’t realize coyotes live in the city, or think you’ll only see them next to greenbelts, or at night, or … It’s in the coyotes’ interests and ours that we keep a wary distance apart; this info from the state explains how (including this key advice: if you see one, try to scare it away).

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/05/west-seattle-coyotes-two-sightings-three-animals/feed/4West Seattle coyotes: Yes, you might see one in the daytimehttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/04/west-seattle-coyotes-yes-you-might-see-one-in-the-daytime/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/04/west-seattle-coyotes-yes-you-might-see-one-in-the-daytime/#commentsMon, 14 Apr 2014 02:45:08 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=270437Two coyote reports to share tonight – one sent this afternoon by an Arbor Heights resident who says her neighbors don’t believe they come out in the daytime. Check the WSB archive of coyote sightings, some with photos – they do! And/or, click ahead to read today’s report (and another one that had been in queue):

First, today’s report, from Karen:

Sunday, 2 pm – I just saw a young coyote in my backyard trying to lure my curious cat off my back deck. My home butts against the Fauntleroy Park greenbelt. I’m on 98th Ave SW between 37th & 39th in Arbor Heights.

I believe I lost my other cat back in February at around noon to a coyote. I have continuous debates with neighbors that claim coyotes only come out at night & yet I have only seen them during the day.

The coyote didn’t even run away when I came out. I have been in & out all day while she was out there & I felt she was safe since she stays on the elevated deck. She’s not. Obviously I’m at higher risk against the greenbelt but coyotes roam anywhere in this neighborhood.

And sorry to have delayed sharing this one, sent by Amy on April 4th:

I live on 37th & Juneau.

Around 7:45 pm Thursday night, I looked out into our back yard and a very large coyote, one of the largest I’ve seen in my time living in W.S, bounded through our backyard. Nice full coat. We have a lot of pets on our block and when I was heading to the gym shortly after that, saw a neighbor walking his dog and stopped to warn him. We both agreed it had been a couple of years since we’ve seen one in our area.

We share coyote reports in the interest of being educational, as we still hear from and about people who don’t realize coyotes live in the city. It’s in their interests and ours that we keep a wary distance apart, and this info from the state explains how (including why it’s important to try to scare them away if you see one).

]]>http://westseattleblog.com/2014/04/west-seattle-coyotes-yes-you-might-see-one-in-the-daytime/feed/4West Seattle coyotes: Two sightings this afternoonhttp://westseattleblog.com/2014/03/west-seattle-coyotes-two-sightings-this-afternoon/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/03/west-seattle-coyotes-two-sightings-this-afternoon/#commentsSun, 23 Mar 2014 00:02:57 +0000WSBhttp://westseattleblog.com/?p=268471No coyote reports in the WSB inbox for a long time, and then suddenly, within minutes of each other, two came in this afternoon, from two different neighborhoods (perhaps because it’s spring and almost pupping time). First, Beth reported: “I just passed a large coyote on 42nd and Barton” (map); then, from Jeff:

Saw a coyote on 44th Ave SW mid-block between SW Rose St & SW Southern St [map] at 12:30 PM today. Ducked into the greenbelt between 44th and 45th when it saw us. Third sighting here in the past 2-3 months. Appears to be the same animal.

If you’re a new reader – WSB has long featured coyote sightings and information (archived here, newest-to-oldest) not out of alarmism, but as education. While they more often eat rodents, they do sometimes eat small pets left alone outside, and bereaved pet owners subsequently say they had no idea that could happen. Without food sources – including dog/cat food put outside – and with “hazing” if you encounter one, they can be encouraged to keep their distance, as advised/explained by the state.